You're Gonna Drool Over This Pure, Perfect Library Porn

The new book Library: A World History, is filled with gorgeous photography of book palaces around the world. That one above is the grand Philosophical Hall, at Strahov Abbey in Prague, and it’s straight Beauty and the Beast-style. I half expect Belle to come flying by on a rolling staircase talking about the book with the far-off places and a prince in disguise. It’s her favorite!

The book’s author, Dr. James Campbell, wants to spread the word about libraries important part of our past — and where they’re headed in the future.

Public libraries are currently under threat and everyone is discussing whether it could spell the end for libraries. Personally I love them and I wanted to show what an amazing history they have. People’s perceptions of libraries are largely based on their own experiences of them, so most have no idea what a Roman or medieval library looks like. I wanted to bring all these fascinating buildings together.

It’s probably mandatory for someone to get a Kickstarter going to send us all around the world to visit all these libraries. Also, while we are there, we will take bookshelfies and tell everyone not with us (PHILISTINES!) that those are our personal collections. Who’s in? (Nobody?) (Cool.)